Summary

In the comfort of Ruth’s embrace, Patty imagines all is well again, but soon has to return to reality. She tells Ruth she doesn’t want to go back home, but Ruth reminds her at twelve, she does not have much choice. She admonishes her not to run away, but to go home and finish her education so she can go to college and make something of herself. Patty tells her she wants to be a journalist, and has already chosen a nom de plume, Antonia Alexander. In fact, she is already planning her first article, about the conditions at the reformatory. Ms. Madlee has encouraged her, suggesting if the article is good, the paper might publish it. Ruth encourages her.

The matron comes to tell them the visit is over. When Patty resists, Ruth asks for a few more moments. The Matron launches into...